GP Immunity: Breakdown & Key Nutrients

Our immunity has been at the forefront of our minds for quite some time now. There are many ways in which we can support the health of our immune systems; through our diet, lifestyle and supplementation. 

GP Immunity is nutritional support for your immune system, with combined optimum levels of key vitamins and minerals. Within this blog, our Nutrition team is going to break down the key nutrients and look at the researched benefits for our immunity. 

Key Nutrients in GP Immunity:

 Zinc is known to play an important role for our immunity. This mineral keeps the immune system strong in different ways; healing wounds, supporting normal growth and helping to fight infection. The body also needs Zinc to make proteins and DNA (1). 

Today, zinc is one of the most common mineral nutrient deficiencies, therefore it is important to make sure we are getting enough through our diets, and then think about supplementation. Foods rich in zinc consist of shellfish, meat, legumes [chickpeas, lentils, beans], nuts, dairy, eggs, whole grains. Your daily dose of GP Immunity contains 120% of RDI of Zinc. 

Vitamin D can act to modulate our immune responses, and a deficiency in this vitamin can compromise the immune system and increase chances of infection. Vitamin D is known as the 'sunshine vitamin’ and actually works much the same way in our body as hormones do. It is created when your skin is exposed to UV light, and has vital functions such as regulating the absorption of calcium and phosphorus [imperative for bone health] and facilitating a healthy functioning immune system (2). 

Foods that contain vitamin D consist of eggs, salmon, sardines and fortified foods [milk, cereal, yogurt]. However, it is best to get as much as possible from sunlight or supplement in the winter months. Your daily dose of GP Immunity contains 500% RDI of Vitamin D [1000 IU]. 

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that contributes to your body’s natural immune defences by supporting various cellular functions of both the innate and adaptive immune system. A deficiency in this vitamin can result in impaired immune defences, and higher susceptibility to infection (3). Vitamin C is also imperative for the growth and repair of our tissues, for healthy bones, skin, teeth and cartilage. 

Foods rich in vitamin C include citrus fruits, peppers, strawberries, broccoli, brussel sprouts and potatoes. Your daily dose of GP Immunity contains 200% RDI of Vitamin C. 

B12 is imperative for the immune function as it is necessary for producing a sufficient number of red blood cells to carry oxygen around the body.  Red blood cells are crucial immune cells which are part of your body’s immune response so it’s important to ensure they’re able to form and function correctly (4). 

For vegans and vegetarians it is important to supplement with B12, as it is mostly in animal foods. B12 is rich in meat, fish, dairy, eggs, and may be fortified in certain cereals. Your daily dose of GP Immunity contains 250% RDI of vitamin B12. 

The Link between our Immune and Digestive Systems

Did you know that almost 70% of your immunity resides in your gut? This is an important factor in making sure your gut is well looked after; through boosting good gut bacteria, consuming fermented foods or taking a probiotic. Each optibac probiotic capsule in GP Immunity guarantees 4 billion live cultures. 

The gut microbiota that resides in the gastrointestinal tract provides essential health benefits, particularly by regulating immune balance. It has been discovered that interruptions of the gut microbes can cause immune dysregulation, potentially leading to autoimmune disorders (5). This is why we have included a daily probiotic in the pack for you; to support your good gut bacteria and in turn, your immunity too. 

References: 

1. Wessels, I. Maywald, M. & Rink, L. (2017). Zinc as a Gatekeeper of Immune Function. Nutrients, 9(12), 1286.

2. Aranow C. (2011). Vitamin D and the immune system. Journal of investigative medicine: the official publication of the American Federation for Clinical Research, 59(6), 881–886.

3. Carr AC, Maggini S. (2017). Vitamin C and Immune Function. Nutrients, 9(11):1211.

4. O'Leary, F. & Samman, S. (2010). Vitamin B12 in health and disease. Nutrients, 2(3), 299–316.

5. Wu, H. J. & Wu, E. (2012). The role of gut microbiota in immune homeostasis and autoimmunity. Gut microbes, 3(1), 4–14.